what happened to my girlfriends arm?

[Faciosity]

My girlfriend was feeding mysis to the corals, when after a few minutes she felt her arm start to sting. There was definate evidence of something either poking or stinging her in a straight line, with some bruising within minutes. She didn't even think that she touched anything, and we aren't sure what might have happened. My first thoughts were many different things:

Could have barely grazed the tentacles of a black sun coral, or a favia and had a reaction. (since these were the only corals that could have reached that part of her arm at the time)

Could have had a small unnoticable wound before she put her arm in the tank, and it was irritated from something in the water.

Could have been grazed by the blue tang's dorsal fin.

Anybody recognize these marks?

We did the basic routine of vinegar followed by aggressive antibacterial scrubbing and even duct tape in case something was stuck inside. The stinging sensation and most of the swelling was reduced, but the bruising continued where the wound was inflicted. Seems like the worst of it is over, but she was hoping for answers to what could have done this. Her first thought was a bristleworm, but I've had many encounters with them as you all know, and this was a different pattern, and no obvious spines sticking out of the wound.

 

[nata]

Was there a frogspawn ,torch or hammer close by ..this is how it looks ehen they sting me ..matter of fact my arm
Looks like that right now lol..take benadryl capsule and cream ..will sting on and off for a week ..feels not good for sure....

 

[mojoreef]

Yea it could be any of those, it all depends on the persons reaction to it, or basically how sensitive they are to it. The spot she got stung in is a soft area. I know old time reeferes and Marine biologists that now get that kind of reaction from just sticking their hands in the water, I was getting for a while like that also and hand to quit it completely for a couple of years.

DO as nata said if it doesnt go away right away

Mojo

 

[Top Water]

Its just part of reefing. I get it all the time . Never on hands just forarm where it is more senitive.
Don't touch a ricordia with a cut on your finger or it will burn too.

 

[Krish]

Bummer man...She might have to start wearing long gloves from now on whenever she puts her hands in the tank just to be safe. It is something we should all practice anyways as a precaution.

 

[saltwaterfishes]

I get it all the time too when dipping my hands in the tank, didn't even know I brushed my arm on a coral. Sometimes when it's not completely gone, by having my arm in the water without touching any corals will come back immediately.

 

[Myteemouse]

bummer for her and you.. sorry this happened..
I know some have more allergic reactions to some things..
I am not alergic to anything (except stupidity) and nothing in my reef stings me BUT my wife gets stung by almost ALL LPS

 

[mojoreef]

Yea its not always alergic reactions, sometimes it just comes from doing it so much that your skin becomes over sensative to it, that happened to me and I believe Calfo had it happen to him also. This is not the case here but it does happen

Mojo

 

[DonW]

Your going to have to cut it off right above the elbow. Might as well do the other side while your at it to prevent this sort of thing.

 

[user 26995]

Your going to have to cut it off right above the elbow. Might as well do the other side while your at it to prevent this sort of thing.

:lol: Your so ornery

 

[mojoreef]

I did that already Don!! I did my legs to, but now when ever I work in the tank everyone keeps calling me Bob???

 

[Faciosity]

Thanks for all the input guys and gals. That is pretty much all stuff I already told her, but she was thinking somebody else might no more specifically for some reason.

I have a feeling she wont be sticking her arms in the tank for a while!:lol:
The weird part, is that after the swelling went down, it became a bruise. It looks very bruised this morning, but not as irritated. Also, in the middle of each bump was a poke mark like something actually stabbed her. I've been stung several times by different things, and have never had bruising as one of the symptoms.

 

[user 26995]

Bruising is caused by broken/burst blood vessels. Sounds like what ever got into her arm got into her blood system and the vessels and burst them. I'd be really careful in the tank from here on out.

 

[ReefLogic]

That is crazy. I know I get a tad of a reaction when I put my arm in my tank now....but I have been considering gloves for quite a while....guess it might be a good idea...plus it eliminates the worry of soap or other contaminants entering your water.

 

[Faciosity]

I'm too stubborn to use gloves. I've had my fair share of stings though!

 

[ReefLogic]

Just get em for her. Doesn't she use lotion and such? My wife is crazy about that stuff....I have to keep remind her that if she plans on putting her arm in the tank she can't have that %$# on her.

 

[user 26995]

Maybe its just me, but I have not had a reaction from anything in my tank. I handle zoas, leathers, mushrooms, anemones all with bare hands. I've been cut by rocks and sps. I get a tingling sensation once in a while in my hand but thats it. I get a worse reaction from handling the raw shrimp that I feed every night. If I get the raw shrimp on my hands I break out and ich like crazy so I handle it frozen and wash my hands real fast afterwards. I dont always get it off in time and break out a few times a month.

 

[ReefLogic]

give it time.....almost every long term reefer I know has a reaction when putting arm in water....some just take longer than others I guess.....I have only had a tank for 3-4 years or so....but a dude I know on RC has had his setup for like 12 years and can't put his arm in the tank without gloves without getting a huge almost rash like reaction.

 

[Ichthys]

Well I have reread the thread and the one thing that just baffles me and I don't understand is.... how do you get your girlfriend to feed your corals? lol.. actually its cool that she is into your hobby enough to take part. My wife also enjoys the hobby and helps me with some stuff. She likes using the magent cleaner to clean the glass... those of us with spouses that are into our hobby are pretty lucky.

 

[ReefLogic]

you have no idea how lucky you are.